“LVMH wants to sell smartwatches to well-off fashionistas, introducing a techy timepiece under its Louis Vuitton suitcase brand that opens a higher-end front in the luxury conglomerate’s fightback against Apple Inc.,” Corinne Gretler and Robert Williams report for Bloomberg. “Louis Vuitton’s Tambour Horizon starts at $2,450, about eight times the price of an entry-level Apple Watch and significantly more than many other connected devices from European watch and fashion brands, as well as more pedestrian gadgets from Samsung Electronics Co.”

“Within two years, Apple has become the world’s second-bestselling watch brand, outranked only by Rolex, disrupting sales of low-end makers and convincing LVMH that it needs to offer alternatives or risk falling behind,” Gretler and Williams report. “While low-end Swiss manufacturers such as Swatch Group AG’s namesake brand have introduced intelligent timepieces, exclusive makers like Rolex and Patek Philippe have largely steered clear for fear of sullying their image.”

Louis Vuitton’s Tambour Horizon smartwatch

“Louis Vuitton’s traditional watches are produced in Switzerland. The smartwatch’s case is assembled in that country and the watch uses technology developed in Silicon Valley, the company said in a statement that does not say where the inner workings are made,” Gretler and Williams report. “Louis Vuitton is relying on Android, as well as technology from Qualcomm Inc.”

Not so sure, don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone decked out in Louis Vuitton use an android. There may be some people buying fake LV products that also buy fake iPhones but Apple owns the high end fashionistas.

Mutton dressed as Mutton wearing a gaudy 70s disco collar more like. That looks so very cheap and naff but then a lot of high end stuff does to my eye I guess. Its that area where pronouncing your wealth is all important, with little or nothing to do with actual taste.